Composition fuel



Feb. 9, 1937. H, F RD 7' 2,070,428. 1 COMPOSITI-ON FUEL- v f w Fild July 26, 1934 INVENTOR 42W H M BY wwwm ATTORNEYS Patented Feb. 9, 1937' UNITED STATES COMPOSITION FUEL Frederick H. Ford, Waupun, Wia, asslgnorto The Shaler Company, Waupun, Wis. a corporation of Delaware Application July as, 1934, Serial No. 131L054 2 Claims. (01. 44-3) My invention relates to improvements in composition fuels with particular reference to fuels of the self-oxygenating type-adapted to support combustion while the fuel is being consumed,

5 to some extent at least, under conditions exeluding atmospheric air, or preventing the fuel from receiving a normal amount of oxygen from the air after surface ignition.

The object of my invention is to provide means for accurately predetermining the rate of combustion and the number of heat units delivered in a desired direction within a definite period of time,' whereby the effects upon the material to be heated may be calculated in advance and kept substantially uniform notwithstanding various external conditions.

My invention is peculiarly adapted for em bodiment in prepared or composition fuels for use in repair vulcanization.

most commonly employed for such purposes is that described in the patent to Arthur B. Low, No. 1,252,909, granted January 8, 1918, for a prepared fuel comprising a disk of cardboard or similar fibrous material impregnated with saltpeter and sugar. Under certain conditions, a disk of this fuel placed in'a comparatively thin walled metal pan adapted to serve as a platen for a vulcanizing clamp or clamping mechanism will burnwithout flame and without warping or without lifting from the bottom of the pan.

, But variation in moisture content of such fuels and other factors tending to vary their rate of combustion, have heretofore made it impossible to reliably predetermine the degree of vulcanization obtainable. The storage of such fuels in sealed 50 sheets or plies of composition fuel, and by employlng a bonding or cementing agent capable of serving also as a combustion retarding agent, I am able to produce a substantially. non-warping sheet offuel and to more effectually prevent 55 the fuel'from being lifted from a repair vul- Heretofore the fuel period of heat generation, and uniform delivery 5 of heat units through a metal plate or platen upon which the fuel rests. a

My invention is applicable to fuel of any type, although it is peculiarly adapted for use in connection with self-oxygenating fuels. other solid and semi-solid fuels are quick burning at the surface, and develop an ashy covering through which the air slowly penetrates and maintains retarded combustion without flame for a substantial period of time, and wherever I6 such combustion develops warping or -lifting tendencies, my invention will be found serviceable. i

In the drawing:

Figurel is a view of a fuel disk embodying 20 my invention, the thickness of the cementing and heat controlling intermediate layer being somewhat exaggerated in proportion to that of the fuel plies.

Figure 2 is a'sectional view of a so-called '5 patch and heat unit comprising a disk of my improved fuel in a pan having cemented to its under surface a rubber patch to be clamped upon a tire tube or other surface to be repaired by clamping mechanism in which the pan serves as 30 prepare a plurality of layers or plies of,se1f- 35 oxygenating fuel of the character described in the aforesaid Patent NO. 1,252,909, although the individual sheets or disks are thinner than those heretofore commercially used. The thickness of each ply will depend upon the number of plies 40 to be used in a single fuel unit and the desired thickness of the completed unit. 7

Where two pliesof cardboard are superposed as illustratedin the accompanying drawing and for the purpose of producinga fuel unit for a roadside repair vulcanizer, each layer or ply should be about one-half the thickness of a single fuel disk prepared in accordance with said former patent,

After determining the number of plies to be used, I superpose them, with an interposedmixture of silicate of soda and water. When suiiiciently dry, this forms a glassy-like bondingagent or hinder which secures the plies together, and adds considerable rigidity to the unit thus But many 10 produced. Large sheets of cardboard ,correspending in number with the desired number of plies are preferably cemented together and then impregnated with, oxygenating material, and, if desired, with other combustion regulating and heat storing material, such as sugar. and when dried sufilciently to be cut into fuel units. circular, oval, or square, they are die-cut or severed in any convenient manner. Another method of manufacture would be to first impregnate the large sheets with saltpeter or equivalent oxygenating material and with sugar or equivalent combustion retarding material, as described in said former patent, and'then cement the sheets together and subsequently cut them into disks or into any form corresponding with the internal dimensions of the pan or platen into or upon which they are to be placed.

The silicate of soda forms a glassy layer coextensive with thehorizontal area of the fuel unit and capable of imparting thereto a considerable degree of rigidity. The resistance of this coating flexing of the unit, even during "greater than that of to warping or combustion. being much the impregnated material.

If desired, the upper surface of the upper layer may be similarly coated,-preferably with a thinner layer of silicate of soda, which may readily be penetrated'by the head of a burning match when applied to initiate combustion.

While I employ vconsolidated layers or plies of fibrous material impregnated with saltpeter, as described in said former patent, my invention is not limited to the use of fibrous material,

since any self oxygenating combustible material capable of being consolidated in the form of sheets or plies may be employed and bonded together in superposed layers in the manner above described. -But the material so selected should be capable of developing the required number of heat units for the desired purpose and for a period of time corresponding with a desired heating interval.

For example, a prepared fuel composed of carbon, or preferably a mixture of different grades or-qualities of carbon having quick and slow burning characteristics and containing an oxygenating material such as. saltpeter and a combustible bonding material, may be used A composition of this character, intended for repair vulcanlzing purposes, is described in an application filed by Paul H. Segnitz, Mach 3, 1932, Serial No. 596,424. Such a composition of combustible materials may- -be made available for my purposes by molding the same into a pan in successive layers, each layer being coated with an insulation of cement, preferably silicate of soda and water, before applying the next layer thereto. I

The layers of such cementitious material may be just thick enough to bend the fibrous or carbonaceous plies together as above described with reference to the preparation of heat units formed of cardboard impregnated with saltpeter, and such other materials as may be employed to control the rate of combustion.

Also, any cementitious or bonding material which will not prevent the combustion from spreading'from one of the plies to the next one below it will be found more or less effective for imparting rigidity to theunit, and while some materials may be effective to some extent as a combustion retarding agent, its effect preventing downward transfer of heat is slight, and predetermination of the total heat to be delivered to the rubber is facilitated by a preliminary completion of the layer of combustion of the upper ply not only completes the layer of ash, but heats the lower layers or plies so that they are always consumed under substantially uniform conditions of temperature and dryness and air exclusion. If desired, the proportions of bonding material for the various plies may be varied in aid of accurate predetermination of the desired heating effects. By such variations, and by varying the number of plies to increase or diminish the quantity of fuel in the unit, the heating effects may be accurately varied in accordance with requirements imposed where the fuel is used for different purposes or under variant conditions.

The terms "cement" or bonding agent" are used in their broad or generic sense and include any adhesive material which tends to increase the rigidity of the unit and to modify the progress of combustion from one ply to the next. Ordinarily ignition will be initiated in the upper ply,

and combustion will spread downwardly and laterally from the point of ignition,- but this is not essential since the direction in which the fire spreads will be largely determined by the position of the wall, or material to be heated, with reference to the heating unit. If the material to be heated is superposed,ignition will ordinarily take place on an exposed face of the lower p y. j

I claim: v i

l. A fuel unit for vulcanizing purposes, comprising the combination with a pan-like platen, of a plurality of superposed imperforate layers of combustible fibrous material impregnated with self-oxygenating material, said layers being of substantially the same size and cooperative with the platen to substantially exclude, air from all but the top surface of the unit during combustion, and a bonding agent of silicate of soda adapted to secure the piles together, import rigidity thereto, and delay the vertical spread of combustion from one ply to another sufficiently to horizontally enlarge the area within which combustion is taking place preparatoryto the downward spread of combustion from the top ply, whereby'a substantially predetermined number of heat units maybe simultaneously delivered through all portions of the bottom of the platen.

2. A composition fuel for the pan-like platens of portable repair vulcanizers, comprising the combination of a plurality of superposed imperforate plies of combustible fibrous material impregnated with self-oxygenating material and formed to substantially fit within such pan-like platens, said plies being of substantially the same size and adapted to cooperate with the walls of such a platen to substantially exclude air from all but the top surface ofthe unit during combustion, and said plies being cementitiously connected with each other by a bonding agent of silicate of soda adapted to impart rigidity to the piles, delay the vertical spread of combustion ash. The more thorough CERTIFICATE or CORRECTION.

Patent No. 2,070,428. 1 February 9 1937.

FREDERICK H. FORD.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 2, first column, line 61, for the word "bend" read bond; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 23rd day of March, A. D. 1937.

Henry Van Arsdale (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents..-

CERTIFICATE or connso'rion.

Patent No. 2,070,428. 1 February 9, 1937.

' FREDERICK a. roan.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 2, first column, line 61,, for the word "bend" read bond; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this'correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case 'in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 23rd day of March, A. D. 1937.

Henry Vgn Arsdale 1 (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents..- 

